Chapter XIX. 



HOMEWARD BOUND. 



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UESDAY, August 12th. — When we 

 came on board last night we were re- 

 ceived with the very pleasing informa- 

 tion that a fine whale, which would 

 probably yield seventeen tons, had been caught 

 during our absence. The men have been engaged 

 since four this morning in making off the blubber 

 from the last fish. At about nine a tremendous 

 cheering announced the fact of the ship being full 

 between decks, and nearly ten tons over, which will 

 be stowed in some small supernumerary tanks with 

 which the ship is supplied. We are to all intents 

 and purposes a full ship, and have on board the 

 largest cargo of oil that has ever gone home from 

 Baffin's Bay, so it will not be long before we are 

 homeward bound. All day I have been employed 

 skinning the birds I was fortunate enough to ob- 

 tain yesterday, which consist of a king duck and 



